Argument IN FAVOR of Advisory Vote

A "YES" Vote on the "State Advisory"
question will keep Term Limits in place for statewide
officeholders, such as the governor, state legislators and local
officials.

The people of Idaho enacted the 1994 Term Limits Law by
Initiative. Nearly 235,000 of us voted in favor of Term Limits on
elected state, county, municipal and school district officials.
More Idahoans voted for Term Limits than voted for Governor Batt.

Rather than abiding by the will of the people, incumbent state
legislators and some local politicians are trying to find an
excuse to repeal Term Limits. Term Limits haven't even yet taken
effect and the politicians have already cooked up an elaborate
scheme to undo our vote.

These career politicians have placed this "Term Limits
Advisory" vote on the ballot in an attempt to confuse voters
and cancel our earlier vote. Don't be fooled!

We need Term Limits in Idaho. Vote "YES" when you
consider:

· In states where Term Limits have already gone into effect,
voters have more choice at the ballot box -- the quality and
number of candidates running for office is increasing and
campaign costs are decreasing.

· Without Term Limits, we don't have competitive elections in
Idaho. Only 18 percent of 1998 county races and only 7 percent of
state legislative races are competitive, open seat elections.
Over 73 percent of incumbents in the Legislature were unopposed
in the Primary Election. Even worse, more than half will have no
opponent in this November's election!

· The people of Idaho have been clear and consistent in their
overwhelmingly support for Term Limits. Boise State University
research shows nearly 80 percent of us want to keep the Term
Limits we passed in 1994.

· Lobbyists, special interest groups, and bureaucrats have
lost power in states where Term Limits are in effect. Lobbyists
and bureaucrats oppose Term Limits because they know it's more
difficult to get taxpayer dollars from a term limited legislator,
county commissioner or school board member.

· Term Limits ensure greater fiscal responsibility and lower
taxes. Voting records of Idaho politicians show that the longer
incumbents stay in office, the more of our tax dollars they
spend. By contrast, in the first session after Term Limits went
into effect, Idaho legislators passed the largest tax cut in a
generation.

· Term Limits create more competitive elections, and open our
government to new people with new ideas for solving Idaho's
problems at the state, county, city and school district levels.

The 1994 Term Limits Law that YOU established assures that THE
VOTERS ALWAYS HAVE THE POWER TO KEEP ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL THEY
WANT. All the people have to do to re-elect a term-limited
official is to write the candidate's name in on the ballot.

Vote "YES" on the "Term Limits Advisory"
measure and send a message to our state politicians: "Keep
your hands off our 1994 Term Limits Act! The people passed Term
Limits! It's our Law!"

Vote "YES" for Idaho Term Limits.

Citizens for Term Limits

Rebuttal to Argument in Favor of Advisory Vote

Supporters of "term limits" are trying to convince
Idaho voters there won't be room for newcomers to government
unless we arbitrarily throw people out of office every few years.
That's not true. Here are the facts about turn-over that already
exists, even without arbitrary "term-limits:"

· COUNTY OFFICES (commissioners, sheriffs, treasurers,
assessors, clerks, prosecuting attorneys, coroners): In the last
4 elections, the rate of change has been about 33% each election.
On average, 1 out of every 3 people elected to these important
local offices is brand-new. "Term limits" are not
needed here.

· CITY OFFICES: Turn-over among mayors has averaged 31% in
the last 4 elections. Turn-over among City Council members has
averaged 35% in that same time frame. "Term limits" are
not needed here.

· SCHOOL BOARDS: The last 4 elections, turn-over has averaged
about 21%. "Term limits" are not needed here.

· LEGISLATURE: Turn-over has been about 25% the last 4
elections. That means almost the entire Legislature is new every
8 years. "Term limits" are not needed here.

Idaho voters should have the right to decide how long our
local office-holders can serve -- not an arbitrary law that
out-of-stators in California, Texas and Washington, DC, spent
$76,896 to get passed. But if arbitrary "term limits"
are allowed to take effect, experienced, capable people will be
forced out -- even when voters want to keep them in office.

Please vote NO to "term limits." Tell our
legislators to give control of our government back to voters.